We Tested (and Rated!) Every Sofa at Crate & Barrel

The right couch isn’t just the place where you’ll spend hours watching TV, napping, reading a book, or hanging out — it also sets the tone for your entire living space’s aesthetic. So, shopping for a couch is a tall order, and it’s important to do your research before you buy.

That’s why we launched our Personal Shopper series, where we send our editors to top furniture stores to touch, sit on, and look at their products in person. For this edition, we focused on the five sofas displayed at the Crate & Barrel store in New York City, including family-friendly sectionals and compact apartment couches. 

Crate & Barrel has been a go-to furniture brand for years, thanks to its focus on timeless design, quality materials, and comfort over trends. When you shop for a Crate & Barrel sofa, you know you aren’t going to get something disposable — C&B sofas are well made and designed to last for many years, and they won’t go out of style any time soon. 

One of the best parts about shopping for a Crate & Barrel sofa is the range of customizations available, including size, upholstery, color, and even design details like legs and cushions. The brand’s overall aesthetic is modern and versatile, and there are couches of every size and for every household, including extra-large, family-friendly options and petite couches for apartment living. 

Apartment Therapy editors have Crate & Barrel products in their own homes (including couches and beds), and we’ve written extensively about the brand’s many collaborations with top designers. We’ve also visited Crate & Barrel for previous iterations of the Personal Shopper series — you can check out our thoughts on C&B’s beds and rugs here.

We judged every Crate & Barrel sofa based on the following criteria:

• Overall sit: What posture does the sofa best support? How deep or shallow are the seats? Are the cushions soft or firm on the back and arms?
• Seat firmness: How soft or firm are the seat cushions? How do they contribute to overall posture and comfort?
• Customizability: Does it come in different varieties? How many colors, finishes, materials, or sizes is it available in? How granular can you get when customizing the sofa?
• Multifunctionality: Does it have storage capacity? What else can the sofa do or help with?
• Sturdiness: Is the frame made from durable, high-quality materials? Does the sofa wobble or creak when you’re on it?
• Appearance: What style does it best suit? Does it lean more traditional (i.e., deep hues, busy details, flanged edges) or more contemporary (i.e., clean lines, low profiles, mid-century modern design elements)?

Each sofa in this article was tested by Quinn Fish, who is both a staff writer for Apartment Therapy and the senior lifestyle editor at The Kitchn. For Apartment Therapy, Quinn covers cleaning and organizing, kitchen design, and DIY projects, as well as the best products to make your life easier. She’s been with the company since 2023, and previously worked at PureWow and Reader’s Digest.

Quinn’s thoughts: It might seem like a cop-out to declare the Lounge Sofa the “best for lounging,” but it really does live up to its name. Right off the bat, this sofa felt pretty amazing to sit on — the cushions were well cushioned but supportive, and the deeper seat made it easy to spread out. The cushions had some bounceback, but they weren’t noticeably deflated when I stood up, so I don’t think they’ll lose their shape quickly. One thing to note is that the armrests are pretty thin, so they aren’t ideal for leaning back if that’s how you like to lounge. Nothing a few throw pillows can’t fix!

Although this couch looks expensive, it’s actually the most affordable out of all the options I tested. It has a modern, cozy vibe that’s inviting and unfussy, and I could see it fitting in pretty much any space. The “cement” upholstery color was slightly more oatmeal-y in person compared with photos, but it’s a nice performance material (and there are over 200 other color and fabric combinations available). It feels really soft and easy to clean, so I think it’s good for an active home.

One of the best parts about shopping at Crate & Barrel is the range of customizations available. I particularly love that you have the option to choose among three different depths (the most out of the bunch). The sofa I saw had the “deep” depth, and it felt so luxurious — I’m 5’7” and appreciated that the seat cushions were longer than my thighs. In my opinion, this is a dream napping couch, and I think I could easily sit or sleep on it for hours.

Specifications: 

• Styles: Also available in leather and as a sleeper sofa, chaise sectional, L-shaped sectional, U-shaped sectional, chair, recliner, and chaise lounge 
• Lengths: 73, 83, 93, 105 inches
• Depths: 36, 41, 46 inches
• Upholstery: Bouclé, canvas, chenille, linen, microfiber, shearling, textured, twill, velvet
• Frame: Kiln-dried hardwood

Quinn’s thoughts: The Gather Sofa is a Crate & Barrel bestseller, and even has a fan in Executive Editor Terri Pous, who splurged on a Gather Sectional for her living room. I saw the U-shaped sectional in the store, and was immediately impressed by how gorgeous it looked. I loved the long chaises on each side, which made the already comfy couch even more lounge-worthy. Plus, the deep seats (it comes in two depths) made me feel comfortable right away.

The cushions are on the softer side but still pretty supportive, and I noticed they were bouncier than the other couch cushions. Although my feet touched the floor when I sat down, I still found it harder to get up because of the extra bounce. I also didn’t love the chenille upholstery — it was a little rough for my taste, although it certainly looks expensive. I did like the oatmeal-esque hue, though, especially because there’s a subtle color variation.

Again, the Gather has tons of customization options, including size, depth, cushion type, and fabric. There are also tons of sectional configurations you can choose from, ranging from small to large, so I think this is an ideal couch for families or those who have large living rooms to fill. Plus, it’s a great couch for lounging, so everyone will be happy during family movie nights.

Specifications: 

• Styles: Also available in leather and with a wood base and as a chaise sectional, L-shaped sectional, U-shaped sectional, chair, and chaise lounge 
• Lengths: 77, 89, 99 inches
• Depths: 38 and 43 inches
• Upholstery: Bouclé, canvas, chenille, linen, microfiber, plain weave, shearling, textured, twill, velvet
• Frame: Kiln-dried engineered hardwood

Quinn’s thoughts: The Unwind Sofa gives off a very relaxed, almost bohemian vibe that probably won’t be for everyone. It’s best for an ultracasual space, especially since the cushions don’t have any bounceback and require lots of fluffing to keep them looking good. It also has a low profile and the shortest height of all the sofas I tested, which made it the hardest couch to get out of. All that being said, I do think it’s perfect if you’re going for a more laidback style.

In particular, I absolutely love the olive color! The cotton-linen blend fabric itself feels great (although not as soft as other options), and it seems quite durable. Unfortunately, this sofa comes with much fewer customization options compared with the others — there are only five total colors to choose from, and just one material. Additionally, it only comes in one depth, although it’s deep enough that taller people should be happy.

The Unwind’s cushions are the softest of all the Crate & Barrel sofas I tested, and they feel a bit thinner and less supportive. The overall weight of the sofa felt lighter and less sturdy than the others, too. I did like that the armrests were slightly thicker and more supportive than the arms of the Lounge and Gather sofas, and I really loved the chaise on the model I saw in the store. Again, I think this sofa is the most casual of all the models I saw and would be best for a basement or family room — not a formal living room.

Specifications: 

• Styles: Also available as an ottoman sectional, chaise sectional, L-shaped sectional, and U-shaped sectional
• Lengths: 92, 100, 148 inches
• Depth: 44.5 inches
• Upholstery: Linen
• Frame: Birch and engineered wood

Quinn’s thoughts: If you’re looking for a minimalist couch with clean lines and a tall back, you’ll love the Axis Sofa. I saw the 76-inch “apartment” size in the store, and I think it’s a fabulous choice for smaller spaces (but it also comes in two larger sizes if you’re not shopping small). Since it had a smaller profile, I was able to lift it up pretty easily — although I still think it’s very sturdy, despite the lighter weight.

The cushions were super bouncy and bounced back completely when I stood up, and I think they’re the firmest of all the couches I saw. This couch is definitely supportive and doesn’t give you that sink-in feeling, which could be a pro or a con depending on your preferences. It also has the widest armrests, which were pretty comfortable to lean on and gave the petite size some added heft.

The Axis comes in two depths, and I saw the “regular” option in the store. As a 5’7” gal, I prefer the deeper seat, but the regular depth wasn’t too uncomfortable. It benefits from a high angled back, which makes leaning back much more comfortable despite the shallower seat. I also liked the chunky rectangular legs — unlike other Crate & Barrel sofas, the Axis comes with six different finishes, so you can really get the style you want.

Specifications: 

• Styles: Also available in leather and as a sleeper sofa, chaise sectional, L-shaped sectional, U-shaped sectional, chair, swivel chair, and chaise lounge 
• Lengths: 66, 76, 88, 105 inches
• Depths: 38 and 43 inches
• Upholstery: Bouclé, canvas, chenille, linen, microfiber, shearling, textured, twill, velvet
• Frame: Kiln-dried hardwood

Quinn’s thoughts: The Retreat Sofa is easily the most modern of the bunch, and there’s a lot to like about the style, which looks high-end but super comfy and approachable. I absolutely love the double lumbar pillows, which you can remove for a deeper sit or keep for extra support. It’s not as deep as some of the other Crate & Barrel couches, but it felt relatively tall, which I appreciated. My feet hit the floor when I sat down, but I could also lounge comfortably with my legs curled up.

The cushions are super comfy with a lot of bounce, so I didn’t sink in so much. The cushions bounced back completely, and I don’t think you would have to worry about them losing their shape. I loved the extra thick armrests, which you could easily lean or even sit on, or rest your tablet, laptop, or phone on. The sofa itself is clearly sturdy, and it was heavy enough that I couldn’t lift it up on my own. 

The model I saw in the store was upholstered in a textured weave and had a nice subtle glitter to it. I thought it was gorgeous, although the tightly woven construction isn’t the softest. Again, though, there are nearly 300 other options, including leather. Overall, I’m really impressed with the number of fabric and color choices (it has the most out of the bunch I saw), which makes up for the fact that there are no depth, cushion type, or leg customizations available. Although I wish this couch were a little deeper, I love the style and lumbar pillows.

Specifications: 

• Styles: Also available in leather and as a chaise sectional, L-shaped sectional, U-shaped sectional, and chair
• Lengths: 78, 94, 103 inches
• Depth: 44 inches
• Upholstery: Bouclé, canvas, chenille, linen, microfiber, plain weave, shearling, textured, twill, velvet
• Frame: Engineered hardwood